Egbert h



R. H.'DOWL-ING.

(No Model;)

GAR COUPLING.

Patented S'ept. 27,1881.-

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law/mien:

nah Lemma UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT H. BOWLING, OF NEWARK, OHIO, ASSIGNOR To oHARLEs H. STIMSON, EsAME PLACE.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 247,624, datedSeptember 27, 1881. Application filed May 27, 1881. (No model.) 7

To all whom it mag concern Be it known that I, ROBERT E. BOWLING, acitizen of theUnited States of America, resi din g at Newark, in thecounty of Licking and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Oar-Couplers; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,and

to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification, and in which- Figure l is a sectional view, partlyin elevation. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal view, and Figs. 3 and 4are details.

This invention relates to improvements in means for coupling carstogether. Its object is to provide a convenient and sure car-couplingdevice applicable to cars of different heights or of the same height.

My invention consists in a reversible coupling pin or bolt of theconstruction hereinafter described.

Myinvention further consists in a draw-head having formed therein apinor bolt hole of peculiar construction, in combination with a reversiblecoupling-pin, as hereinafter described.

My invention also consists in the novel arrangement and combination ofthe parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described and specificallyclaimed.

The construction and operation of my invention will be fullyunderstoodby the followin g description:

Arepresents a draw-head and bumper of the usual exterior conformationand build, as is also the chamber or opening in the end through whichthe link or bar is admitted, but in the interior, hack of thecoupling-pin, is formed with the shoulders i, as means for the flangesof the dart-head coupling-bar to jut against when it enters thedraw-head, and passes far enough in to permit the pronged coupling-pinto drop straddle of the neck of the bar. The letter arepresents a slotformed in the draw-head directly across the head, and extending to itsbase below the line of the lower wall of the slot in the face of thedrawhead, and having in the upper part the centrally-located circulardepression for the purpose of fitting the bulge or swell of thecoupling-pin, and in the base, extending through the head, is the hole0, to receive the circular arm of the couplingpin when the ordinarycoupling-link is used.

B represents my improved coupling-pin, (see Fig. 3,) consisting of thepin part 01 and the forked slide e. This forked slide is formed on theinner face perfectly plane, and on the outer face with the central swellor bulge, o, and has the vertical slot f, beveled and flared for thepurpose of readily admitting the head of an arrowhead coupling-bar.

The letter 0 represents a coupling-bar provided with the flanges g onits sides, the office of which is to prevent the bolt from entering thedraw-head any farther than is necessary to permit the forked slide todrop straddle of the neck of the coupling-bar.

It will be observed that by having the transverse pin-slot in the headextend beyond the lines of the slot in the draw-head the forked slide isprotected and strengthened when in position, and that by forming theinterior of the draw-head with shoulders and the dart with extra flangeson the sides injury to the draw-head is obviated in a great measure. Thepin-slot in the draw-head may extend through the draw-head, in orderthat the prongs of the forked slide may be made longer, to admit moreplay up and down to the slide than under other circumstances.

To couple the cars by the use of the forked slide and dart-head bar, thecoupling-bar is fixed in the draw-head of the car and the forked slidedropped in place. This holds the bar in a horizontal direction, ornearly so, toward the opening of the draw-head in the car to beconnected, and when run in place the head of the bar lifts the prongedslide, and as soon as the shoulders of the head pass the slide it dropsstraddle of the neck of the bar and secures the connection, and thus theself-coupling is completed without danger of life or limb to the personwhose duty it is to couple the cars.

The slide can be operated by drawing it out of the draw-head whilestanding on the ground, or from the deck of the car by means of a smallred or chain. This rod or chain may be provided with a staple driven inthe end of the deck of the car to secure the boltfroin being misplaced,and the slide can hang suspended by the side of the draw-head, ready foruse.

If it is desired to use the pin part of the slide and acoininonlinlccoupling, all that is necessary to do is to invert theslide, adjust the link in the draw-head as usual, and pass the pin downwith the beveled part of the slide to the front or mouth of thedraw-head. The slide will drop in place, the shoulders resting on thepin, and bearing it in nearly horizontal direction, it will be ready toenter the drawhead of the car to be connected.

The forked slide should be provided with a snap-hook attached to the endof a rod or chain, and snapped to the link or hole in the end of thepin, in order that the slide may be inverted or detached at pleasure.

It will be seen by this construction of the draw-heads and thereversible coupling-pin that I am enabled to use or employ either thearrow-head draw-bars or the ordinary coupling-links.

\VhatIelaim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A reversible coupling-pin, B, for a carcoupler, having the oppositeends so constructed as to couple the ordinary link or drawbar,substantially as described.

2. The combination of the drawhead, having the ordinary chamber oropening for a coupling-link or arrow-head draw-bar, and provided with avertical slot or opening, and the reversible coupling-pin adapted foreither the old link or arrow-head draw-bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I af'fix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIaM N EWKIRK, EDSON B. DENNIS.

